It was a hit that could have registered on the Richter Scale because it was looking like the biggest impact the Los Angeles Kings would make Sunday.

When Dustin Brown rocked Henrik Sedin with a heavy forearm check to the shoulder in the second period, a blow that also caught his chin, it sent the Vancouver Canucks captain crushing to the ice and striking his head. He struggled to regain his footing and had to be helped to the bench before briefly leaving Game 3 of the Western Conference quarterfinal.

It left an impression and an ensuing scrap between Anze Kopitar and Alex Burrows was about as heated as it got because there was simply too much at stake.

Now, fast forward to Thursday’s Game 3 win over St. Louis, when Brown sent St. Louis captain David Backes up and over the boards and into the Blues bench:

Nothing summed up the Kings’ swagger more than the hit captain Dustin Brown put on St. Louis winger David Backes that sent him into his own bench in the second period.

Backes is supposed to be the Blues’ big, physical, imposing threat. He’s supposed to embody the aggressive nature of the Blues. The Kings were supposed to give him that always-know-where-he’s-at-on-the-ice attention.

Brown made a clean hit on Backes, but it was more than just a hit. This was a message. The Kings aren’t just winning. They’re pummeling the Blues, and the visitors have shockingly given up.

— Both are captains
— Both play the robust, power-forward game
— Iginla was 26 when he led the Flames to the Cup finals
— Brown is 27
— Iginla had eight points in his first eight playoff games that year
— Brown has nine in eight
— Iginla led the playoffs with two shorthanded goals
— Brown is tied for the playoff lead with two shorthanded goals

It has been fun to watch Dustin Brown grow as a player. He had the same attitude about banging and hitting since his rookie season. Every year he has grown so much as a player. Sean Avery used to rag on him mercilessly in practice. Brown never complained or let anything come between his desire to become the best all around player he could be. He is still growing. He is in the top 3 in hits for the season for years. He has matured into the captaincy of the Kings. His leadership continues to improve as he leads the Kings every year. One of the things he does so well is get in the heads of the opponents. He will give someone a crack hit and then as the oponents are wrangilng in his ear he slowly skates away with a blank look on his face. I can’t help but feel he is chuckling inside as he skates away.

He is a great player. The Kings would not be the team they are without Dustin Brown, his style of play and his leadership.